Something Is Rotten at the Tea Party Convention

After a 2009 full of big marches and huge rallies, Tea Baggers across America decided to bring their anger indoors in 2010 with a convention this February. Bad idea. As the Times reports today, the convention is on the verge of falling apart and threatening to take the movement down with it. The biggest problem is the cost ($549 per ticket plus a $9.95 fee), much of which is going toward Sarah Palin’s $100,000 speakingfee.

The high cost has led one conservative group to pull out because of the appearance of “profiteering and exploitation of the grass-roots movement.” Erick Erickson of RedState.com said that the convention looks “scammy” and other groups have withdrawn sponsorship because of the shadyorganizer.

This is not what Tea Baggers want. They’re supposed to be the common sense Americans, interested in only what’s good for the country. But all this talk of profiteering and corruption, along with the bitter infighting, just makes them look like the people they hatemost—politicians.